§ PODCAST / EPISODES
Antagonists!
5 episodes · Mar 2018 – Aug 2018
DZ-49: Antagonists! 1 - vs Humans
What makes a strong human antagonist?
Prompted by a listener (and patron of the podcast) question, Stu and Chas dive into antagonistic forces. And because Draft Zero does not do anything by halves, this is Part One of a Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonists; namely: vs humans, vs self, vs nature/supernatural, vs systems and “other”. aka the classic narrative conflicts… →
Listen if you want to understand how to craft compelling antagonists who oppose your protagonist through direct human conflict
DZ-50: Antagonists! 2 - vs Self
How can characters be their own antagonist?
In Part Two of our Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonists, Chas & Stu take a look at “vs self” stories. Stories where the protagonist (or main character) serves as their own antagonist as well as the antagonist for those around them… →
Listen if you want to understand how protagonists can serve as their own antagonist and how antagonistic forces shape a character's journey
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DZ-51: Antagonists! 3 - vs Nature
What changes in your story if your antagonistic forces can't be bargained with?
In this Part Three of our Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonistic forces (and sources of conflict), Chas & Stu explore “nature” antagonists, including some supernatural ones. What became clear in doing the homework (and recording this episode twice) was that the antagonistic forces - whether natural or supernatural - presented different narrative challenges to the protagonists if (a) they did not seem to make choices and (b) could not be bargained with or defeated… →
Listen to understand why pressure--not obstacles--is what transforms a protagonist when they face an unstoppable force.
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DZ-52: Antagonists! 4 - vs Systems
How do systems pressure your characters to change?
This is Part Four (!!) of our Five Part Epic Exploration into antagonists forces and sources of conflict. In this episode we explore “system/world/society” antagonists. While stereotypically associated with science-fiction, these sources of conflict are found across genres… →
Listen if you want to use how societal, governmental, or environmental forces as villains.
DZ-53: Antagonists! 5 - vs Audience
What if there is no antagonist?
It’s time. The Epic Deep Dive(TM) into Antagonists has reached its shuddering conclusion. And for this Part V - by choosing films that have no obvious singular antagonist (and in some cases no obvious narrative either) - Stu and Chas realised there was indeed a final category of antagonists: the films themselves. Where the film (and the filmmaker) are engaging directly with the audience. Where the films are... VERSUS AUDIENCE… →
Listen to turn narrative uncertainty itself into the engine that keeps viewers compelled.